Apparatus for ore concentration



April 24, 1934. R. B. MARTIN v APPARATUS FOR ORE CONCENTRATION FiledAug. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 24, 1934. R. B. MARTIN 1,956,296

APPARATUS FOR ORE CONCENTRATION Filed Aug. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVEN+0 Rhetherfwd B-Nartm BYWM ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1934APPARATUS FOR ORE'CONCENTRATION Rhetherford B. Martin, Roselle, N. J.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Tennessee Corporation ApplicationAugust 5, 1930, Serial No. 473,184

19 Claims.

concentration of ores, and more particularly tov improving apparatus forconcentration by water gravity table methods.

Heretofore the separation of one mineral from another by gravity tablesusually has been ef fected by the design andthe angle of the rifiiesrelative to the tilt of the table and'the impact of the head motion.Insome cases, arrangements in which the deck is in two or more planesjoined by sloping surfaces have been employed. In prior practice, theoperation has been carried outwith finely crushed ores in a freelyflowing pulp. Disadvantages have been encountered, particularly in thesmall capacity a given table will handle.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to produce a greaterconcentrating capacity with gravity tables than heretofore accomplished.

Another object of this invention is to concentrate by gravity tables acoarser feed than heretofore employed.

Yet another object of this invention is to give a greater mobility tothe mineral and gangue particles in the flowingpulpl' undergoingconcentration and thereby improve the stratifying action of the tablewith improvement in the grade of concentrate while at the same timeincreasing the capacity of the table.

A further object of this invention'is to discharge from gravity tablesthe separated constituents of ores at a greater speed than heretoforepossible.

In practicing my invention I utilize the well known gravityconcentrating tables such as the Wilfiey, the Deister, the James and thelike, which had been in common use for gravity separation of ores. I somodify the construction thereof as to render the action of said tablesvastly more efficient than heretofore. I place upon the tableswires, orthe equivalent, so as to facilitate the action of the table' and theseparation of the ore, from the gangue. These wires are generally placedat an angle to the riffles and-usually I provide one or more sets ofparallel wires placed apart a' sufiicient and satisfactory distance. l

I have found that by covering the riflles of concentrating tables withmetal strips, or more particularly, wires spaced 1% inches apart, thevolume of feed may be increased ten to twenty times that a normal tablewould handle. It is important that the wires shall be inclined at anangle to the rifiles such that the movement lengthwise of the table ofthe solid particles (ore and/ or sand) in the portions of the body ofpulp on the table that tend to remain above the level of the riflies isretarded and at the same time such particles are guided laterally of thetable. The angle of inclination of the wires to the rifiles may bevaried through a wide range so long as the conditions above mentionedare satisfied. For best results the nature of the ore and the size ofthe feed particles should be considered in determining the angle atwhich the cross wires should be set. However, I have obtained equallygood results, in regard to grade of concentrate and impoverishment oftailings, when the wires were set at one angle, and then changed to thediametrically opposite direction, the noticeable difierence being in theincreased capacity of the table.

In treating a non-metallic ore, having substantially the same specificgravity as the gangue, such as phosphate ores, when agglomerated intofloccules with the capacity of sinking less rapidly in water than thegangue particles, (see my U. S. Letters Patent Nos 1,797,356, datedMarch 24, 1931), I have obtained highly satisfactory results by placinga set of wires upon the rifiles at about a 225 angle to the riffles sothat the .wires extend diagonally across the table from the end awayfrom the point of feed and the head motion towards the point of feed'andthe head motion. This provision will hasten the 35 movement ofconcentrates across the table while retarding their movement lengthwiseof. the table. At the same time this makes it possible to accelerate themovement of the sands along the riflies by speeding up the rate ofreciprocation of the table. I

A still further improvement in result has been obtained by associating a.set of cross wires, inclined at a 225 angle as above described, with asecond set of cross wires inclined at a greater angle to the riflies,and preferably at substantially right angles to the first set, thesecond set of cross wires being confined to the portion of the tableadjacent the point of feed to the table. In this way the movement of thematerial lengthwise of the table in the zone above the level of the mainor primary riffles is still further retarded in the earlier stages ofthe treatment of the ore on the table when it is desirable to promote ahigh degree of stratifying action.

tioned within the body of material at least in the portions of the tableadjacent the point of feed of pulp thereto. In practice it has beenfound most advantageous to employ wires of from 12 to 15 B. and S.gauge.

Wire screen of two inch mesh has been used, with inferior results, thejunction of the Wires forming the mesh unduly churning up and disturbingthe stratification of the bed.

Riiiles with a depth of two or more inches at the head motion end of thetable and tapering to 1% of an inch towards the farend of the table,fitted with cross wires, have been used with great success from thepoint of view of tonnage, such construction facilitating the settlingand movement of the sands under the cross wires to the discharge end ofthe table.

When treating a non-metallic ore, such as agglomerated phosphate, thecross wires. impart mobility to the mineral and gangue particles in thebody of pulp on the concentrating bed. The flow of water at right anglestoethe riiiles washes the phosphate across the table where it isrecovered as concentrates while the sand (gangue) particles settlebetween the rifiles and are carried along in the channels between therifiies beneath the cross wires to the end of the .table where they aredischarged.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view diagrammatic in character showing in dottedlines the direction of wires placed on the table, and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing two sets of parallel wires on thetable. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a table of the Wilfleytype equipped with an arrangement of crosswires or cross rifles-arrangedgenerally as shown in Figure 2.

Referring .to Figure 1, I have indicated by the broken line 1 a seriesof wires parallel to each other and spaced a suitable distance apart atthe head end i of the table 5, containing a series of riflies 6 whichhave a maximum depth at the The wires 2 are spaced apart and parallelover substantially the head end of the table, although they may extendover the entire table if desired.

Instead of the sets of wires 1 and 2, I may place a set of parallelwires 3 suitably spaced apart at an angle of about 22.5 to the rifliesas shown. With this arrangement I have still further substantiallyincreased the capacity of the table without markedly lowering the gradeof the concentrate. k

In Figure 2 I have shown the use 'of two sets of wires 2 and 3: of whichthe wires 2 are in parallel and at the head end of the table and thewires 3' extend from the furthermost wire 2 to the tails end of saidtable. The ore is fed at point 7, the tails are taken off at 8, themiddlings at 9, and the concentrates at 10. This arrangement I havefound to be even more effective in increasing the efiiciency of thetable than any of those described above. The wires may be secured to thetable in any suitable manner as byftacking them upon the rlffles, or bypinning them at numerous points between each of the rifiles or at asufiicient number of points so as to hold the wires in their properrelation to the table.' In place of wires, Wire fabric of suitable formand spacing may be used proving it is of such a form as not to disturbunduly the solid particles of the pulp being agitated on the table. Thewires need not be directly secured to the table, but may even beindependent thereof, but they should be held in such relation to thetable as to give them the desired function.

Referring to Figure 3, 11 represents generally a table of the Wilfieytype having a deck 12 equipped with a set of primary rifiles 6 extendinggenerally lengthwise and ending along a diagonal line 6a. Head motion isimparted through a suitable driv-' ing mechanism indicated generally at13. The ore pulp is introduced through a feed box 14 at the upper righthand corner adjacent the head motion. A perforated pipe 15 for supplyingdressing water is shown as disposed along the upper side of the table.Launders 16 and 17 are provided at one end and along the lower side ofthe table to receive the tails and concentrates. A portion of thelaunder 17 is shown divided oiT by the partition 18 to receive thatportion of the 105,

' sired, on the same level or lower than the corner 22. Tables of thistype are generally provided with means, not shown, for varying theinclination of the table laterally and lengthwise according to theoperating requirements, and it will be understood that in operation theinclination of the table will be varied as desired.

The following are examples of practice, carrying out this invention inthe treatment of phosphate ores, on a James Gravity Concentrating Table:

Carload lots of. phosphate were secured from the Phosphate MiningCompany, near Mulberry Florida. A typical screen test shows the'folloing segregations: V

Per cent On 8 mesh 1 2.8 On 10 mesh 15.4 On 14 mesh 35.8 On'28 mesh 39.0Thru 28 mesh 7.0

The phosphate was agglomerated into floccules in the manner described inmy Patent No. 1,79'l,-

356, and fed to a James standard commercial con- A below:

TEST B Table fitted with cross wires 1, at right angles to the riflles,spaced 1% inches apart. Table feed was at rate of 78 tons per 24 hoursAssay %B.P. L. I S102 Heads 59. 10 24. 43 Concentrates... 73. 44 5. 76a1l 1ngs 5. 71 90. 94 Indicated B. P. L. recovery 95. 0%

TEST C Table fitted with cross wires 2, spaced 1 inches apart, at 45degrees angle to the riflles. Table feed was at the rate of 126 tons per24 hours Assay B. P. L. SiOa Heads 59. 85 25.59 Concentrates 75. 40 4.68 Te1l1n 7. 01 90. 40 Indicated B. I. L. recovery 7.3%

TEST D Table fitted'with cross wires 3, spaced 1 inches apart, beginningat the lower left end of the table, away from the head motion, andextending upwards and across the rifles, at a 22.5

- degree angle to the riflles, to the head motion end. Table feed was atthe rate of 149 tons per 24 hours Assay B. P L SiOz 59. 39 26. 88 73. 666. 38 Tailings 7. 01 90. 84 Indicated B P. L. recovery. 97.4%

Tss-r E Table fitted with cross wires 2 and 3 (Fig. 2) spaced 1 inchesapart. The table was led at the rate of 151 tons per 24 hours Assay B.P. L. SiOz Heads 59. 85 25. 59 Concentrates 74. 16 7. 43 Tailings 5.0092. 84 Indicated B. P. L. recovery 98.2%

Although I have described my invention setting forth several embodimentsthereof, and showing its use in connection with the recovery ofphosphate ores, it is to be understood that my invention is not limitedthereto. For example, the wires may run in different directions thanindicated in the drawings, and may be spaced varying distances apart andmay cover varying portions of the table. The wires need not be strictlyparallel, and two and even more sets of wires running in differentdirections may be used. The minerals which may be concentrated by myapparatus are of many characters too numerous to mention here and theycomprise practically all of the minerals which are subject to gravityconcentration.

I have given figures showing the increase in recovery by the use of myinvention, but such figures are not to limit my invention, for example,in Test E, I have obtained a recovery as stated of 151 tons, but infurther tests I have been able to feed the table at the rate of 188 tonsper 24 hours.

The arrangements of wires which I have described are not necessarily thebest for all purposes. but the ideas which I have set forth may beadapted in various forms to various concentrating tables and many ores,so that it may be found that other arrangements than I have specifioallydescribed may be more effective under special circumstances. All suchvariations constitute a part of my invention which is not to be limited,except by the claims appended hereto.

It will further be understood that in lieu of wires, other wire-likemembers or strips, constituting riffle elements, may be employedprovided they are of such form and so spaced with respect to the primaryrifiles as to perform the essential functions of the cross wires in asimilar way.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for ore concentration which comprises a table, rifilesin the surface thereof, means for imparting motion to said table, andmeans on said table for increasing the mobility of ore being treated,said means including two sets of substantially parallel wires at anangle to said rifiles, one set being at the heads end of said table andthe other set being adjacent thereto, the two sets being at right anglesto each other.

2. An apparatus for concentrating ore by wet gravity methods including anormally laterally inclined separating table, riilles extendinglengthwise of the surface thereof, means for imparting vibratory motionto said table in a direction substantially parallel to that of saidriffies, means for'feeding dressing water to said table adjacent theupper edge thereof, and means superimposed on said ritlles forincreasing the mobility of the ore being treated, for retarding themovement of the lighter constituents of the ore lengthwise of said tablewhile permitting the heavier constituents to pass freely along pathsdefined by said rifiles, and for guiding said lighter constituents offthe table in paths transverse to those defined for the heavierconstituents by said rifiles, said means being further so positionedwith respect to said rifiles as to be disposed in the body of materialbeing fed across said table.

3. An apparatus for concentrating ore by wet gravity methods including anormally laterally inclined separating table, riffles extendinglengthwiseof the surface thereof, means for imparting vibratory motionto said table in a direction substantially parallel to that of saidriflles,

means for feeding dressing water to said table, and means superimposedupon and extending across said riflles and extending over a substantialportion of the area of said table adjacent the heads end for increasingthe mobility of the ore being treated, for retarding the movement of thelighter constituents of the ore lengthwise of said table Whilepermitting the heavier constituents to pass freely along paths definedby said lengthwise rifiies, and forguiding said lighter constituents offthe table in paths transverse to those defined for the heavierconstituents by said rifiies, said means being further so positionedwith respect to said rifiles as to be disposed in the body of materialbeing fed across said table.

4. An apparatus for concentrating ore by wet gravity methods including anormally laterally inclined separating table, rifilesextendinglengthwise of the surface thereof, means for impartingvibratory motion to said table in a direction substantially parallel tothat of said rifiles, means for feeding dressing water to said tableadjacent the upper lateral edge thereof, and means on said table forincreasing the mobility of the ore being treated, for retarding themovement of the lighter constituents of the ore lengthwise of said tablewhile permitting the heavier constituents to pass freely along'pathsdefined by said rifiles, and for guiding said lighter constituents offthe table in paths transverse to those defined for the heavierconstituents by said rillles, said means including a plurality ofwirelike members superimposed upon said rifiles in angular relationthereto and further so positioned on said table as to be disposed withinthe body of ore being fed across said table.

5. An apparatus for concentrating ore by wet gravity methods including atable of the type adapted to be reciprocated to feed the ore across thesurface thereof, said table including a plurality of substantiallyparallel rifiies arranged substantially parallel wi h respect to thedirec- 1 tion of reciprocation, means forfeeding dressapplicationthereof to the table.

ing water to said table, and a plurality of substantially parallelwire-like members overlying an extended area of the rifiies adjacent thepoint of feed of ore pulp to said table and positioned in the materialon the table at a substantial angle with respect to said riflies, thetable being in-, clined in a direction generally transverse therifiles,..whereby, in operation, the concentrate and the tailings aredischarged from the table in different directions with respect to theextension of the rifiles, the angularily of the said wire like membersbeing such that they extend generally transversely to the general ormean direc'-- tion of movement of the ore from the point of 6. Anapparatus for concentrating ore by wet gravity methods including a tableof the type adapted to be reciprocated to feed the ore across thesurfacethereof, said table including a plurality of substantiallyparallel riffles arranged substantially parallel with respect to thedirection of reciprocation, means for feeding dressing water to saidtable, and a plurality of substantially parallel wire-like membersoverlying an extended area of the rifiies adjacent the heads end of saidtable and positioned in the material on the table at a substantial anglewith respect to said rifiies, the table being inclined in the directionin which the riflles extend and further being inclined generallytransversely of said rifiies, whereby, in operation, theconcentrate isdischarged from thetable at one edge there'- being treated and forretarding the movement of the lighter constituents of the ore lengthwiseof said table while permitting the heavier constituents to pass freelyalong paths defined by said lengthwise riflies, said means including aseries of substantially parallel wires superimposed upon said rifiles atan angle thereto and extending generally transversely of the mean oraverage direction of material across the table from a point adjacent thepoint of feed of material to said table over at least a substantialportion of said table, said wires being further so positioned as to movein the material being fed across the table.

8. An apparatus for concentrating ores by wet gravity methods includinga substantially rectangular, normally laterally inclined table, rifflesextending lengthwise of the surface thereof; means for impartingvibratory motion to said table in a direction substantially parallel tothat of said rifiles, whereby the heavier constituents of an ore pulpintroduced adjacent one end of the table will be moved along said tableto the opposite end thereof and the lighter constituents of said orepulp will be moved laterally of said said means comprising a series ofcross rifiles superimposed upon and extending across said lengthwiseriflles toward the lateral discharge side of the table, said series ofrifiles covering at least a substantial portion of the table adjacentthe heads end thereof and being so positioned as to be disposed withinthe material being fed across the-table.

9. Ore concentrating apparatus including a normally laterally inclinedseparating table having a plurality of substantially parallel riffieelements on thesurface thereof and being of a type adapted to feed orethereacross under the influence of vibratory or reciprocatory motion ofthe table and of dressing water flowing over the surface of the table,and to discharge separated materials in different directions withrespect to the extension of said riflle elements, means for feeding oreand dressing water to said table adjacent the upper side thereof, meansforv increasing the mobility of the ore being treated, for retarding themovement of the lighter constituents of the ore in the general directionof reciprocation of the table while permitting the heavier constitucutsto pass freely along paths defined by said rifiles, and for guiding saidlighter constituents off" the table in paths transverse to those definedfor the heavier constituents by said rifiies, said means comprising aplurality of additional riflie elements superimposed upon saidfirst-mentioned rilile elements and disposed in the path of movement ofthe material across the table, and further extending generallytransversely ofthe general direction of extension of saidfirst-mentioned rifle elements from a point adjacent the point of feedof material to said table over at least a substantial portion of saidtable.

10. Ore concentrating apparatus including a normally laterallyinclinedseparating table of a type adapted to feed ore thereacross underthe influence of vibratory or reciprocatory motion imparted to saidtable and of dressing water flowing over the surface of the table, andto discharge separated materials in different directions with respect tothe extension of rifle elements arranged on the surface thereof, saidrifle elements being further arranged substantially parallel to oneanother and to the direction of reciprocation of the table, means forfeeding dressing water to said table adjacent the upper edge thereof,and

a plurality of additional rifle elements 'superimposed upon thefirst-mentioned rifle elements and disposed in the path of movement ofthe material across the table, and extending over at least a substantialportion of the area of the table and generally transversely of the meanor average direction of movement of material across the table.

11. Ore concentrating apparatus including a normally laterally inclinedseparating table of a type' adapted to feed ore thereacross under theinfluence of vibratory or reciprocatory motion imparted to said tableandof dressing water flowing over the surface of the table, and todischarge separated material in different directions with respect to theextension of rifle elements arranged on the surface thereof, said rifleelements being further arranged substantially parallel to one,

another and to the direction of reciprocation of the table, means forfeeding dressing Water to said table adjacent the upper edge thereof,and a plurality of additional rifle elements superimposed upon thefirst' mentioned rifle elements and disposed in the path of movement ofthe material across the table, and extending over at leasta substantialportion of the area of the table and in a direction generallyparalleling the mean or average direction of movement across the table.

12. Ore concentrating apparatus including a normally laterally inclinedseparating table of a type adapted to feed ore thereacross under theinfluence of vibratory or reciprocatory motion imparted to said table"and of dressing water flowing over the surface of the table, and todis-- charge separated'materials in difierent directions with respect tothe extension of rifle elements arranged on the surface thereof, saidrifle elements,being further arranged substantially parallel to'oneanother.- and to the direction of recipro- Q: cation of the'table, meansfor feeding dressing water to said table adjacentthe upper edge thereof,and a plurality of additional rifle elements superimposed'up'on thefirst-mentioned rifle elements and disposed in the path of movement of"tion of reciprocation, a set of substantially parallel wire-like membersoverlying an extended area of the rifles and positionedzin the materialon the table at a substantial angle with respect to said rifles, and anadditional set of substantially parallel wire-like membersoverlyinganother ex tended area of the rifles and positioned in thematerial on the table at a substantial angle with respect to saidrifles, the table being inclined in the direction in which the riflesextend and further being inclined generally transversely of said rifles,whereby, in operation, the concentrate and the tailings are dischargedfrom the table in diiferent directions with respect to the extension ofthe rifles, the angularity of the two sets of wire-like memrs being suchthat the members in one set extend approximately perpendicularly to thegeneral or mean direction of movement of the ore from the point ofapplication thereof to the table and the members of the other set extendapproximately parallel to the general or mean direction of movement ofthe ore from the point of application thereof to the table.

14. An apparatus for ore concentration including a table, riflesextending lengthwise of the surface thereof, means for impartingvibratory motion to said table in a direction-substantially parallel tothat of said rifles, means superimposed upon and extending across saidrifles and extending over a substantial portion of the area of saidtable adjacent the heads end for increasing the mobility of the orebeing treated and for retarding the movement of the lighter constituentsof the ore lengthwise of said table while permitting the heavierconstituents to pass freely along paths defined by said lengthwiserifles, and additional means superimposed upon and extending across saidrifles and extending over a substantial portion of the area of saidtable from a point adjacent said first-mentioned means, said means beingadapted to retard the movement of the lighter constituents of the orelengthwise of said table while accelerating the lateral movementthereof.

15. An, apparatus for ore concentration which comprises a substantiallyrectangular, normally laterally inclined table, rifles extendinglengthwise of the surface thereof, means for imparting vibratory motionto said table in a' direction substantially' parallel to that of saidrifles, whereby the heavier constituents of an ore pulp introducedadjacent one end of the table will be moved along said table to theopposite end thereof and the lighter constituents of said ore pulp willbemoved laterally of said table, and means for increasing the rmobilityof the ore particles adjacent the feed end of the table while retardingthe longitudinal movement of the lighter constituents of the ore, saidmeans comprising a series of cross rifles superimposed upon andextending across said lengthwise rifles over a substantial portion ofthe area of said table adjacent the disposed on asubstantial portion ofthe area of said table adjacent the first-mentioned set-of cross riflesbut more remote from the heads end of said table, said second set ofcross rifles being dis-' posed at a substantial angle to the crossrifles comprising said first-mentioned set of cross rifles.

16. Ore concentrating apparatus including a separating table having aplurality of substantially parallel rifle elements on the surfacethereof and being of a type adapted to feed ore. thereacross under theinfluence of vibratory or reciprocatory motion of the table and todischarge separated materials in different directions with respect tothe extension of said rifle elements, a plurality of rifle elementsdisposed in the path of movement of the material across the table andtially parallel rifle elements on the surface thereof and being of atype adapted to feed ore thereacross under the influence of vibratory orreciprocatory motion of the table and to discharge separated materialsin different directions with respect to the extension of said rifleelements, a

plurality of rifle elements disposed in the path of movement of thematerial across the table and extended in a direction generallytransverse the mean or average direction of movement of the material, aplurality of additional rifle elements also disposed in the path ofmovement of the material across the table and extended in a directiongenerally paralleling the mean or average direction of movement of thematerial across the table, the rifle elements second mentioned beingdisposed in advance of the rifle elements last mentioned with respect tothe direction of movement of the material across the table.

18. An apparatus for ore concentration which comprises a substantiallyrectangular, normally laterally inclined table, rifles extendinglengthwise of the surface thereof, means for, imparting vibratory motionto said table in a direction substantially parallel to that of saidrifles, a series of cross rifles superimposed upon and extending acrosssaid lengthwise rifles over a substantial portion of the area of saidtable adjacent the heads end thereof, said cross rifles being sodisposed with respect to the lengthwise rifles as to retard longitudinalmovement of the lighter constituents of the ore while permitting theheavier constituents to pass therebeneath along the paths defined by thelengthwise rifles, and a second series of cross rifles disposed at anangle to the first-mentioned cross rifles and extending diagonallyacross the lengthwise rifles from points adjacent said first-mentionedcross rifles toward the lower side of said table.

' 19. An apparatus for ore concentration which comprises a table,rifles, extending lengthwise of the surface thereof, means for impartingvibratory motion to said table in a direction substantially parallel tothat of said rifles, and means on said table .for increasing themobility of the ore being treated, for retarding the movement of thelighter constituents lengthwise of said table and for accelerating theirmovement laterally thereof, all while permitting the heavierconstituents to pass freely along paths defined by said lengthwiserifles, said means including two sets 'of substantially parallel wires,said sets being disposed at an angle to said rifles and to each other,one set being at the heads end of said table and the other set beingadjacent thereto.

RHETHERFORD B. MARTIN.

